Buckle



Jun e 12, 1934. 1 1 p ER I I 1,962,846

- BUCKLE Original Filed May 1, 1951 Patented June 12, 1934 UNITED STATESPATENT OFFICE Original application May 1, 1931, Serial No. 534,304.Divided and this application August 6, 1932, Serial No. 627,752

2 Claims. (01. 24-163) Other objects and advantages of the inventionwill appear hereinafter.

Reference is to be had to the accompanying drawing, in which Fig. 1 is aview of a preferred form of the buckle shown as applied to a tire chain;

Fig. 2 is a side view of the buckle shown in its locked position, and

Fig. 3 is a sectional view on the line 3-3 of Fig. 1 shown in its lockedposition.

This device is shown as applied to a so-called mud-hook having a strap10 of very strong textile material, preferably woven on a narrow wareloom, and capable of resisting any force to which it may be subjected inits use for this purpose.

This strap is a simple straight strap adapted to be passed around theinner surface of the rim and passing between two spokes.

The anti-skid portion of the device comprises a pair of chains 11 orother flexible means for preventing skidding shown arranged parallel toeach other. They are secured at one end to the strap 10 inany desiredway. One chain, however, can be used within the scope of some of theclaims.

At the opposite end the strap 10 is brought through the parts of thebuckle frame 15 in the manner shown in Fig. 2. The buckle is formed of apiece of metal having a square or rectangular opening through which thestrap passes twice. At one side is an outer bar 21. Across a point atabout the center of this opening is a shaft 17 and the frame of thebuckle 15 is provided with depressions 18 serving as bearings for thisshaft and projections 19 completing the bearings, although thesebearings are not covered. The shaft is joumalled loosely in the bearingsthus formed and it is provided with an eccentric portion 20 extendingpractically across the buckle and adapted to come down as shown in Fig.2, into contact with the strap to hold it against the outer bar 21 ofthe frame 15 of the buckle when the parts are in locked position. Thebuckle frame is shown as provided with two opposite side extensions inthe same plane having eyes 14 for receiving the ends ofthe chains 11.

In the use of the device, the chains are placed on the outside of thetire, the strap passed through the inside of the rim and between twospokes of the wheel. The end of the strap is passed between theeccentric 20 and the bar 21 from the back, as shown in Fig. 2 and drawnup. It will be understood that at this time the eccentric 20 is ininoperative position and its handle 22 is in the position shown inFig. 1. The end of the strap is then passed down again through thebuckle between the eccentric and the opposite or inner bar of thebuckle. Now it is drawn up as tight as possible and the end of the strapis passed in through the space between the strap itself and the bar 21where it comes out on what may be considered the outer side of thebuckle, as appears in Fig. 2. This is drawn as tight as possible and thehandle 22 is then turned half way around so that the eccentric 20 bindsthe two layers of the strap between it and the bar 21. The turning ofthe eccentric takes up additional slack in the strap and binds itfirmly. Stops 30 limit the motion of the eccentric.

Now it will be seen that any force, tending to pull the strap away fromthis buckle, also tends to pull the eccentric down further toward thePlane of the buckle and toward the bar 21. Therefore, this constructionwill not be loosened by a pull on the strap which, of course, is anaction that it will be subjected to. On the other hand, when it isdesired to loosen it, that is done very easily by pulling up the handle22 'and pushing it over to the position shown-in Fig. 1. In fact it isnot necessary to push it over as it will snap itself further aroundafter it has been moved through a quarter of a circle.

Although I have illustrated and described only one form of theinvention, I am aware of the fact that modifications can be made thereinby any person skilled in the art without departing from the scope of theinvention as expressed in the claims. Therefore, I do not wish to belimited in this respect otherwise than as set forth in the claims, butwhat I do claim is:--

1. As an article of manufacture a buckle for detachably securing thefree end of a strap, said buckle comprising a flat frame member havingan approximately rectangular opening therein, with a bar on the outerside of the opening, the frame member being formed with bearings, ashaft located in the bearings and having an eccentric portion insidesaid opening and a handle outside, the eccentric portion being adaptedto be turned toward said bar to clamp the strap between it and the barwhen the handle is turned outwardly from the flat member.

2. As an article of manufacture, a buckle comprising a frame, a campivotally mounted on the frame and adapted for oscillation, said framebeing provided with stationary portions forming a passageway ofcross-sectional dimensions sufiicient to accommodate two thicknesses ofsaid frame.

HENRY ST. PIERRE.

